bertillon
/ˈbɜrtɪlən/
noun
- A system of identifying criminals by measuring specific body parts, developed by Alphonse Bertillon in the 19th century.
- The Bertillon system was used by police before fingerprinting became common.
- Detectives recorded the suspect's measurements using the Bertillon method.
- The museum had an exhibit on the history of the Bertillon system.